The Thrill of Anouk...

Marilyn, Nick, Bianca and me were just thrilled to spend time with European superstar Anouk (below, right, with Shore Fire President Marilyn Laverty) over the past couple of days.

Literally the biggest music star ever in the Benelux countries, Anouk was very gracious to all of us and to the top notch gaggle of journalists who met us for lunch at Le Bernadin on Tuesday. Some of the assembled (below, l-r) were Norbert Plantinga, EMI Netherlands; Elyssa Gardner, USA Today; Bianca Martinez, Shore Fire; Jonathan Cohen and Bill Werde, Billboard. Editors from Blender, Entertainment Weekly, Marie Claire and Redbook were also present.

The visit was to introduce Anouk to press here in advance of the stateside release next year of her smash European album Hotel New York.